Article support and ladder attachment

ABSTRACT

A paint bucket support and ladder attachment is disclosed herein. The attachment has a platform and support member which may be received in a hollow rung of a ladder, and a locking means on the support member to clamp the support member in the hollow rung. The paint bucket support has a flat surface for supporting a paint bucket and lugs to hold the paint bucket in place. The platform has several holes in it which may receive such tools as putty knives, screwdrivers, and other similar tools.

United States Patent Ellis Jan. 8, 1974 [54] ARTICLE SUPPORT AND LADDER 3,495,683 2/1970 Broden 248/210 x ATTACHMENT [76] Inventor: Carter D. Ellis, R.D. No. 2, Prima'y Examinerwilliam Schultz Fairview 16415 Att0rneyCharles L. Lovercheck [22] Filed: July 3, 1972 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 268,900 [57] I A paint bucket support and ladder attachment is disclosed herein. The attachment has a platform and sup- 248/210 248/310 port member which may be received in a hollow rung 58] Fie'ld 21 l 238 of a ladder, and a locking means on the support meme ber to clamp the support member in the hollow rung.

The paint bucket support has a flat surface for supporting a paint bucket and lugs to hold the paint [56] References Clted bucket in place. The platform has several holes in it UNITED STATES PATENTS which may receive such tools as putty knives, screw- 2,367,256 1/1945 Atkins 248/210 drivers, and other similar tools. 3,160,383 12/1964 Lamm 248/211 3,223,369 12/1965 Benningcr 248/210 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 111 1 22 11 HII' l'o i ARTICLE SUPPORT AND LADDER ATTACHMENT STATEMENT OF INVENTION This invention relates to paint bucket supports and, more particularly, to paint bucket supports and ladder attachments.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved ladder attachment and tool holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paint bucket holder and ladder attachment which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved attaching means to be used with an aluminum extension ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and versatile platform for working from ladders.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved paint bucket holder and ladderattachment which is small in size and sturdy in construction and reliable to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a paint bucket holder and ladder attachment according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the paint bucket holder and ladder attachment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the paint bucket holder and ladder attachment.

FIG. 4 is an end view taken from the opposite end of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the paint bucket holder and ladder attachment.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, a paint bucket support and ladder attachment shown generally at 10 has a platform 11 which has a flat top surface and a support member 12 fixed to the underside of the platform 11. The edges of the platform 11 are turned down on three sides to form flanges 32, 33 and 34 which are joined by welding or the like at intersecting edges 36 and 37. The flat surface of the platform 11 has a slot or an elongated hole extending through it. The slot 20 is suitable for holding a putty knife, or other similar tools, and spaced tool receiving holes 21, 22 and 23 are suitable for receiving screwdrivers, pliers, and othe small tools. The holes 47 and 48 in the turned down end flange 33 of the platform 11 may accommodate a hook suitable for holding a paint brush. The top surface of the platform 11 has several sets of spaced small holes 24, 25 and 26 to receive the paint bucket clips 27, 28, 29 and 30. The different sets of holes 24, 25 and 26 allow the adjustment of the clips 27, 28, 29 and 30 toward the center of the support to accommodate different sizes of paint buckets. The paint bucket clips 27, 28, 29 and 30 are generally L- shaped with a vertical portion 38 and a horizontal portion 39. These clips may be made of steel or other suitable relatively rigid material. The vertical portion of the clips are suitably curved at their upper end 40 to guide a paint bucket into place and, therefore, make the device efficient to use. The horizontal portion 39 of each paint bucket clip 27, 28, 29 and 30 has a threaded portion 41 which projects through the sets of holes 24, 25 and 26 and to which the wing nuts 31 may be tightened to hold the paint bucket clips in place.

The support member 12 is generally channel shaped in cross section and is attached to the bottom of the support member by spot welding or other fastening means. The support member is generally U-shaped in cross section and has vertical sides 42 and 43 connected by the horizontal top 44. Sides 42 and 43 nar row at the point 13 where the support member porjects beyond the platform 11. This is to permit the entry of support member 12 into the hollow rung 45 of an aluminum ladder 46. To hold the support member 12 in place, a knob 16 is provided which threadably engages the end of the connecting rod 14 on threads 35. The connecting rod 14 passes through a hole 49 in the flange 33 and through a hole 50 in the guide block 17. The guide block 17 is held by support 18 between the flanges of the support member 12 so that the connecting rod 14 freely slides in the hole 50. The angle block 19 has an inclined surface 52 which is inclined toward the distal end of the support member. The ladder engaging block 15 has an inclined upper surface 51 which engages the inclined surface 52 on the angle block 19 so that when the knob 16 is turned on threaded end 35, the connecting rod 14 draws the block 15 with inclined surface 51 along the inclined surface 52 and causes the block 15 to move outward from the channel in the support member 12 thereby engaging the hollow bore in a ladder rung 45 and clamping the support member in position.

To use the device shown, the knurled knob 16 is first loosened on the threads 35 so that the ladder engaging block 15 may slide along the inclined surface 52 of the angle block 19 to its position below the flanges of the support member 12. The support member 12 is then inserted in a hollow in the aluminum ladder rung 45 and the knob 16 tightened to draw the block 15 toward the guide block 17. This causes it to ride up on the inclined surface 52 of the block 19 and move outward from the channel of the support member 12 thereby engaging the inside of the ladder rung 45 holding the support member 12 in position.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as fol lows:

1. A paint bucket holder and ladder attachment comprising,

a platform,

an elongated support member attached to said platform and fixed thereto and being channel shaped in cross section and adapted to be received in a hollow rung of a ladder,

a connecting rod,

a ladder engaging block fixed to an end of said connecting rod,

a guide block fixed in said channel,

said rod extending through said guide block and slidably received therein,

a knob threadably supported on an end of said rod remote from said ladder engaging block,

said threaded end extending through a flange of said platform,

an angle block fixed to said support member and an inclined surface on said guide block,

said inclined surface engaging an inclined surface on said ladder engaging block whereby when said knob is tightened, said ladder engaging block slides along said inclined surface on said guide block and moves outward from said channel whereby said ladder engaging block clamps said support member to said ladderrung,

and means to support a paint bucket on top of said platform.

2. The paint bucket support recited in claim 1 wherein said paint bucket support member comprises spaced clips supported on said platform.

3. The paint bucket support recited in claim 1 wherein said platform is attached to an aluminum extension ladder by said ladder engaging block, I

and said ladder engaging block is moved into clamping engagement with said ladder rung by said rod.

4. The paint bucket support recited in claim 2 wherein spaced holes are disposed in said platform for receiving tools.

5. The paint bucket support recited in claim 4 wherein said clips are supported on said platform by means of spaced holes whereby said clips may be adjusted toward and away from said paint bucket.

6. A support for a ladder comprising,

a platform member,

an elongated support member,

the first end of said support member being fixed to said platform,

the second end of said support member extending from said platform and adapted to be received in the hollow rung of a ladder,

an angle block having a surface inclined toward said support member and said platform,

said angle block being fixed to the side of said support member remote from said platform,

a ladder engaging block having an inclined surface slidably engaging said angle block inclined surface,

a rod fixed to said ladder engaging block'at its first end,

the second end of said rod having means thereon to urge said ladder engaging block in a direction toward the end of said support member remote from said platform whereby said ladder engaging block is urged from said support member and into engagement with the inside of said ladder rung clamping said support member to said rung. 

1. A paint bucket holder and ladder attachment comprising, a platform, an elongated support member attached to said platform and fixed thereto and being channel shaped in cross section and adapted to be received in a hollow rung of a ladder, a connecting rod, a ladder engaging block fixed to an end of said connecting rod, a guide block fixed in said channel, said rod extending through said guide block and slidably received therein, a knob threadably supported on an end of said rod remote from said ladder engaging block, said threaded end extending through a flange of said platform, an angle block fixed to said support member and an inclined surface on said guide block, said inclined surface engaging an inclined surface on said ladder engaging block whereby when said knob is tightened, said ladder engaging block slides along said inclined surface on said guide block and moves outward froM said channel whereby said ladder engaging block clamps said support member to said ladder rung, and means to support a paint bucket on top of said platform.
 2. The paint bucket support recited in claim 1 wherein said paint bucket support member comprises spaced clips supported on said platform.
 3. The paint bucket support recited in claim 1 wherein said platform is attached to an aluminum extension ladder by said ladder engaging block, and said ladder engaging block is moved into clamping engagement with said ladder rung by said rod.
 4. The paint bucket support recited in claim 2 wherein spaced holes are disposed in said platform for receiving tools.
 5. The paint bucket support recited in claim 4 wherein said clips are supported on said platform by means of spaced holes whereby said clips may be adjusted toward and away from said paint bucket.
 6. A support for a ladder comprising, a platform member, an elongated support member, the first end of said support member being fixed to said platform, the second end of said support member extending from said platform and adapted to be received in the hollow rung of a ladder, an angle block having a surface inclined toward said support member and said platform, said angle block being fixed to the side of said support member remote from said platform, a ladder engaging block having an inclined surface slidably engaging said angle block inclined surface, a rod fixed to said ladder engaging block at its first end, the second end of said rod having means thereon to urge said ladder engaging block in a direction toward the end of said support member remote from said platform whereby said ladder engaging block is urged from said support member and into engagement with the inside of said ladder rung clamping said support member to said rung. 